Community creates soccer club for refugee children

By Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News

Published 12:00 am, Tuesday, June 3, 2014

SAN ANTONIO — Thirteen-year-old Bishal Magar idolizes professional soccer player Neymar da Silva Santos Jr. of FC Barcelona, and the soccer phenom wasn't far from Bishal's mind as he sprinted across the soccer field at the Rhapsody Soccer Complex on recent Saturday morning.

The teen is a midfielder for one of the boys teams of the SA International Club which drew loud praise from its coach, James Hope, as the team battled the Black Lions in a lively match.

Boy carted off in ambulance after S.A. shooting as relatives scream in anguishSan Antonio Express-News

The coach's praise lifted spirits but could not propel the team to victory. It lost a 5-4 squeaker. Still, the boys were ready to try again.

“We want them to belong,” Hope said. “It's a path to our society where they can become productive citizens.”

For his part, Bishal has set his sights on a bright future.

“I want to be a soccer player,” he said, eyes shining. “We practice every day.”

Hope's lessons are part of the SA International program, created by the San Antonio soccer community for refugee youth who lack the resources to play in soccer leagues. More than 80 refugee youth, ages 11 to 15, play on three boys and two girls teams.

Many of the players and their families fled persecution and war and arrived in San Antonio under the Catholic Charities refugee service program. For many of the youth, it's their first time living outside of a refugee camp. The players of the teams are from more than 10 countries, including the Congo, Honduras, Iran, Kenya, Nepal and Thailand.

“We're San Antonio's international team,” said club founder Deidra Hagdorn.

They wear gently used soccer gear. Some players have shin guards, some don't. The soles of some of their shoes are peeling away. But their biggest challenge, volunteers said, is transportation to and from practice and games.

More Information

“I see these kids, they can't get involved because of limited or no funds,” Hagdorn said. “If they miss the bus, they don't go to school; no one has a car to take them there.”

The club began when Hagdorn had a vision to do something for middle school refugee children in the Northside and North East school districts. She learned that school was their social life, and after school many would just hang out, creating the potential for trouble.

Talking with their teachers, she found there was an alternative — the youngsters loved soccer.